Howe Caverns, New York
A recent trip through the Catskill Mountains in New York provided an opportunity to revisit one of the favorite tourist attractions of my youth. My family used to rent a bungalow in the Catskills, and Howe Caverns was a place we visited every year. Howe Caverns Reception Center. CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=165578696 Howe Caverns is a limestone cave system, complete with a river passing through it that is named the River Styx. The caves were discovered in 1842, when Lester Howe noticed that, on hot days, his cows would gather in the same spot, near some bushes. When he investigated, he found cool air streaming out of a hole in the hillside. He dug out the entrance, and began leading tours in the caves in 1843. Unfortunately, over the years Howe ran into financial difficulties, and had to sell off his land. The area around the caves was bought by a quarry company, and they closed off public access. In 1927 an organization was formed to reopen t...
Seeing your photo of the beach at Isla Verde brings back happy memories....laughter, peace and joy of being in Puerto Rico with my friends and adopted family.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things to do, unfortunately I missed going to Museo de las Americas. Your great description of it makes me even more disappointed!! But...it has given me resolve to go back as soon as I can and remedy the situation. Now I'll go back and look at the rest of your pics, smile and exhale..Ahhh.
I too love Puerto Rico, especially Old San Juan. It's an ancient and ever-changing city. Someone, a true jerk, said that she lived in PR for years and didn't like it because it had no culture of its own. After I kept myself from calling her the asshole I really thought she was, I went on to explain that if you stay in the Condado and the shopping malls the whole time instead of going out and meeting the people in their own environment, you will never find the native culture. It's true, US stores and businesses predominate. In fact, they are steadily running local store owners out of business. But that doesn't mean there isn't a long and vibrant local culture. You just have to know where to look. Ask your waiter, server or maid. (Just about everyone speaks English, especially in the metro area). Take a chance and go beyond what the tourism bureau recommends. Explore, poke around and ask someone who lives there where to get authentic lechon, where can you find a craft fair, where are there restored plantations you can visit, how can you find old roads to find small towns and native festivals. Just beware the mountains that divide north from south. If you are like me, those mountain curvy roads will give you a heart attack. But if heights don't bother you, go for it! The views are spectacular.
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